Miscellaneous Shariah rulings about babies

 

Seeing a baby as soon as it is born

 

The baby can be seen before naming, but the baby should be named as soon as possible.

 

Guidelines for naming children

 

There is a Hadith in Zujaajatul Masabeeh on the authority of Sunan Abu Dawood:

 

Translation:  It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Wahb (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Keep names on the names of the Prophets and with Allah, ‘Abdullah and Abdul Rahmaan and “Harith” and “Hamaam” are those which come the most true and the worst names are “Harb” and “Murrah” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 4952, Zujaajatul Masabeeh Vol. 4, pg 37, 38)

 

This Hadith shows that we should have names on the names of the Prophets (May peace be upon them).  Then those names are better which denote servitude and obedience to Allah Most High like ‘Abdullah (Slave of Allah), ‘Abdur Rahmaan (Slave of Rahmaan).  Apart from them, any name which has a good meaning can be kept.  Those names which have a bad meaning should be avoided at all costs.

 

Can we put babies in a cradle?

 

Putting babies in cradles is permissible in the light of the Shariah.  There is proof of this in the Holy Quran and the Hadith.  The Holy Quran has mention of Hadhrat Isa (Peace be upon him) in a cradle.  It is given in Surah Maryam:

 

They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"  Surah Maryam (19:29)

 

He shall speak to the people in the cradle.  Surah Al-E-Imran (3:46)

 

Also, it is well established that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also has rested in a cradle.  Imam Suyuti (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has recorded a Hadith in Khasaais Kubra on the authority of Baihaqui, Sabuni, Khateeb and Ibn Asakar:

 

Translation:  ‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul Muttalib (May Allah be well pleased with him) says that I told the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam): O Prophet of Allah! (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), a sign of your Prophethood made me embrace Islam.  I had seen you in the cradle that you would talk to the moon and the moon would dip in the sky wherever you would gesture.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: I would talk to it and it would talk to me and it would play with me and keep me from crying and when it would prostrate below the Arsh, I would hear the sound of its falling.  (Khasaais Kubra, Vol. 1, Pg No. 53)

 

The interpreter of Sahih Bukhari, Imam Qustullani, in Mawahib Ladunniya, and Imam Suyuti (May Allah shower His Mercy on them), in Khasaais Kubra, have recorded a Hadith:

 

Translation:  The blessed cradle of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would move because of the service of angels.  (Zurqani ‘Alal Mawahib, Vol. 1, Pg No. 277; Khasaais Kubra, Vol. 1, Pg No. 92)

 

Can parents give away their children to somebody else?

 

Parents can give away their child to people about whom they are sure that they will take care and bring up the child properly.  However, the child will be considered the child of his/her real/biological parents only and not of the foster parents.  Those who raise the child up (legally) do not become their mother and father.  They are their foster parents and the child does not become their child, but will be their foster child (Mutabanna in Arabic, Urdu).  Allah Most High says:

 

Nor He has made your adopted sons your (real) sons.  Surah Ahzaab (33:04)

 

Can a woman suckle infants when she is unclean?

 

As per the Shariah, it is not prohibited for a woman to suckle her children.  If the woman is simply unclean, then she should take a bath as soon as possible.  If she is having her menses, then there is no problem at all.

 

Till what age can infants be suckled?

 

Almighty Allah has made food the means of sustaining human life and has decreed a suitable sustenance (Rizq) for every living creature.  Thus, for infants, milk has been decreed as food.  Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

And the mothers shall suckle their infants for two full years. This (injunction) is for him who wants to complete the suckling period.  Surah Baqarah (2:233)

 

The authoritative opinion is that the period of breastfeeding is 2 years.  As after 2 years of age, the infant doesn’t need breast milk, breastfeeding it after 2 years of age is not correct.  As mentioned in Tabyeen Ul Haqaaiq, the famous treatise of the Hanafi school of jurisprudence in Vol. 2, Pg. No. 634.

 

What to do if infants urinate on us?

 

Wudhu is not rendered invalid because of any external uncleanliness.  Thus, washing the part which has been dirtied with urine is enough, re-performing the Wudhu is not necessary.  As given in Hidayah, Kitab Ut Taharah.

 

What if infants vomit on us?

 

Regardless of whether it is an infant or an adult, if the vomit is a mouthful it is unclean.  It is necessary to wash the clothes and/or the body which have been rendered unclean by it.

 

This is because a mouthful of vomit has been declared by the Shariah to invalidate a Wudhu.  Whatever invalidates a Wudhu is Najasat Ghaliza (filth/uncleanliness).

 

However, if the vomit is not a mouthful, then as it does not invalidate a Wudhu, it is not compulsory to wash the body and/or clothes.  However, the command to wash it is for the sake of cleanliness.  As given in Miraqil Falah, Pg. No. 83.

 

And Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) knows best.

 

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri,

 

[Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia,

Founder-Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]